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Red Sox Get Brutal Update on Timeline for Trade for First Baseman

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 19, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Around Major League Baseball, there might not be a team with a more pressing need than the Boston Red Sox at first base.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox trading for a decent first baseman at this stage of the season seems very unlikely. Not only do teams still not know if they'll be in contention for a playoff spot ahead of the July trade deadline, but they have no reason to move on from players when they know that teams will be much more desperate around the deadline.

Sure, other teams right now need a first baseman outside of the Red Sox, but it might not be as big of a need for others. With teams knowing that, they can wait until the end of July to make the Red Sox give up as big a package as possible.

According to Sean McAdam of Mass Live, that's the issue the Red Sox are currently facing.

"The Red Sox have made a number of inquiries around the game in search of an alternative at first base," McAdam wrote. "Predictably, they’ve hit the expected roadblocks: teams are either not ready to wave the white flag by trading away valuable assets; or, the asking price is roughly twice what it might be at the July trade deadline."

It's a tough scenario for the Red Sox, and ultimately, they don't want to overspend on a average player.

Unless there's a star first baseman available, which there are many of around Major League Baseball, if any, there isn't much of a reason to gut the farm system and make a trade just to make one. For now, they need an internal option to step up.

Rafael Devers, this would be your chance to do what's right.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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